Hi
On Saturday I visited a redundant Baptist Church in Huddersfield. It transpires that the organ is by Holt (presumably William, but it could be any of the Holt organ builders formerly active in this area! The organ is in poor condition - but looking at NPOR it seems that it's possibly an untouched example of an instrument by this builder. The stop list is quite archaic - the 1881 date on the survey is derived from the building date carved into the stonework of the frontage. From a cursory inspection, there doesn't look to be any obvious changes - but lack of power meant that I couldn't try the instrument.
I'd not be surprised to find that the Swell is TC and the organ was second-hand to Primrose Hill. If this instrument is to be saved, it needs to be done soon - the building is up for sale, and the word is that developers are interested, so it might well be sold shortly.
I can put you in contact with the relevant people if there's any chance of saving this organ.
NPOR Survey is: http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=E01893
Every Blessing
What a truly lovely specification!
- Pedal Key action Stop action Compass-low C Compass-high f1 Keys 30
1 Open Diapason 16
Great Key action Tr Stop action Me Compass-low C Compass-high g3 Keys 56
2 Open Diapason 8
3 Stop Diapason Bass 8
4 Clarabella 8
5 Viola Da Gamba 8
6 Principal 4
7 Flute 4
8 Twelfth 2 2/3
9 Fifteenth 2
10 Sesquialtera
11 Clarionet 8
Swell Key action Tr Stop action Me Compass-low C Compass-high g3 Keys 56 Enclosed
12 Double Diapason 16
13 Open Diapason 8
14 Stopped Diapason 8
15 Principal 4
16 Piccolo 2
17 Cornopean 8
Hi
Yes, stop list very typical of the immediate post-1850 period, when "German" compass was coming in, but the Old English ideas hadn't yet vanished. I would have liked to see what it sounded like, but there was no obvious hand blower, and no electricity in the building.
Every Blessing
Tony
Hi
I have just heard that contracts for the sale of the building have been signed - so unless someone can act in the very near future, this looks like becoming another lost organ.
Every Blessing
Tony
Hello,
Would you be able to give me the contact details of the developers? I think we should try and save as much of this organ as we can. I live not to far from huddersfield so a trip over to inspect it would be no trouble.
James
Hi!
It's possibly worth mentioning that the NPOR listing includes some good photographs of this instrument which appears to be visually in a classical style equally at home in a small concert hall as in a church . . .
Best wishes
David P
Hi
The BIOS Conservation officer is interested in trying to save this organ - it does seem to be of historic significance - and is most likely older than the church building - probably around 1860 or even earlier.
The real problem is that notification of the availablility has come far too late.
Every Blessing
Tony
Hi,
I have contacted the head lady of the Yorkshire baptist Church association and they are letting me in on Monday morning to view the organ.
Lets hope we can save this organ!
Hi JKenny
Just out of sheer curiosity, have you any plans for this organ?
Regards,
Matt.
Hello Matt,
Depending on its condition, If it is salvageable I would like to install it in a Private chapel or even in my music room depending on the quality of it.
If the woodwork is rotten through and is in a complete state of disuse I would like to save the pipe work to enlarge my home organ.
Do you have anywhere that you think would be a good home for it?
James
James.
Depends on the scaling. I am trying to get a pipe organ installed at my church, but to be honest this one looks far too large scaled for our needs.
There are one or two ranks which look interesting, but I think at this stage it would be better to keep the instrument intact when there are other less historic organs being scrapped all the time.
Good luck!
Matt.
Your only problem with this one is that it would cost you next to nothing to buy, but a lot to restore and probably would probably end up amounting to the same as buying a second hand pipe organ off ebay.
Hope your project all goes well!
James
Quote from: JKenny on June 22, 2012, 06:20:24 PM
Hi,
I have contacted the head lady of the Yorkshire baptist Church association and they are letting me in on Monday morning to view the organ.
Lets hope we can save this organ!
This sounds most exciting. Please take camera!
Best wishes
David P
Hi
Can I please emphasise that, whatever state this organ is in (I guess it will need significant work to the soundboards at the very least, and probably reservoir releathering) it is of great historical significance, being the last relatively untouched example of an organ by Holt - a Bradford (and area)-based dynasty of organ builders of the mid 1800's.
Despite the scaling, I would think the tone would have more in common with the Early English instruments than, say, the Shulze influenced builders typical of slightly later periods in this area.
Please let me know (by PM if preferred) what happens - the BIOS Casework officer is involved.
Every Blessing
Tony
Hello all,
I went to look at the organ at Primrose Hill today, after being denied access the first time but getting in the second time.
The organ is in a rather good condition, the church only closed last summer so there is no damage to any of the woodwork and all of the pipe work is there. All of the sliders move fine and the same with the action. It is definitely salvageable in its current state.
Unfortunately the keys are being handed over to the developers next week who wish to turn the church into flats so we need to act quickly.
I am going to get the contact details for the developers but we must hope that they won't want much for it as I have very little to spend so might not be able to afford it so we might have to look for someone else interested.
Thats all for now,
James
Hi
Please keep us imformed, I do hope they see sense, if they are going to scrap it the value isnt a great deal.
I wish I had funds available to help you.
Best wishes
Barrie
James.
Good to hear the organ is still in a reasonable state. Hopefully the developers will see that you are doing them a favour in removing the organ for them!
Regards,
Matt.
There is one example on this forum where thanks to interest shown a developer was persuaded to incorporate the organ in situ into the development. It could be inspirational.
Although differing circumstances, there are two examples where an organ has been retained in the South East. At Ashdown Park Hotel in Forest Row / Wych Cross, an organ has been retained in a reception area and is used sometimes at functions and at Royal Earlswood Park, Redhill, a former looney bin, the former chapel organ has been retained in the sports centre even incorporating a swimming pool, and is understood to be in playable condition.
Best wishes
David P
In Manchester, there are two retained organs in converted buildings; namely the large Wadsworth / R&D instrument in what was formerly the Albert Hall; the ground floor of which is now Brannagans Bar. The chapel area and organ are off-limits, but at least it survives in all its splendour unused and now unloved. Perhaps this is just a temporary reprieve for what was a fine hall and significant organ.
The other, is that to be found in the Groucho Restaurant, where the organ has been retained in its entirety.
We even have nice piccies to look at:-
http://www.viewmanchester.co.uk/restaurants/gaucho-gallery-30702.html
http://www.goneeightyfive.com/2011/07/albert-hall-manchester.html
For me, one of the great mistakes was that possibly made, (I use these words with caution, because I may not know all the facts), by the Lancaster Theatre Organ Trust, when there was the opportunity to install a large Wurlitzer organ in the Trafford Centre Retail Mall, They declined this opportunity, and rather sadly, ended up losing the organ altogether; having to sell it after failing to find an alternative home.
How sad that the theatre organ enthusiasts of Manchester now have to travel to Stockport, following the removal of the big Wurlitzer from the Granada Studios Complex and the refurbishment of the former Free Trade Hall. (The latter is the one now in Stockport Town Hall).
MM
Brannagans Bar has now closed and the building (Albert Hall) is now as I understand it completely vacant.
I have walked past the place on many occasions and wondered about the fate of the organ. The building is of architectural importance and has many wonderful features. I just hope the next incumbent uses the building including the organ as it would make a great live music venue and it comes with a significant organ
Best wishes
Marc
Quote from: Holditch on June 27, 2012, 08:26:48 PM
Brannagans Bar has now closed and the building (Albert Hall) is now as I understand it completely vacant.
I have walked past the place on many occasions and wondered about the fate of the organ. The building is of architectural importance and has many wonderful features. I just hope the next incumbent uses the building including the organ as it would make a great live music venue and it comes with a significant organ
========================
It's a very sad situation, because without realising it, Manchester has lost so many very significant venues and organs over the years; not least the Wurlitzer organs of great historical significance, associated with a number of very fine players. I don't think the Town Hall organ is used much these dyas, if at all, and even the cathedral organ seems to be much despised by some.
Apart from the organ in the Bridgewater Hall, and perhaps the RNCM, Manchester seems to have fallen off the organ perch it once occupied.
This in what is probably the third or fourth largest city in England.
MM
Hi
Isn't the cathedral organ being rebuilt by Tickell?
I must agree with MM that the city has lost many fine organs, theres a video on You Tube showing the sad condition of the Town Hall organ.
Best wishes
Barrie
I think its a completely new organ that KT is building in the cathedral and I believe its in the region of £ 1.5M, but I understand that things have not been completely finalised yet.
The town hall organ is a sad state of affairs, and with the current economic situation and council budget cuts it will probably languish in the same state unless some wealthy benefactor comes along; a real shame for a Cavaille Coll. I think maybe a bit of three dimension thinking is required on the part of the council, i.e. try to preserve our historic past for our future generations
http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,580.0.html (http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,580.0.html)
An example of what one "developer" did when faced with an historical instrument...
Eric
KB7DQH
Quote from: Holditch on June 28, 2012, 06:27:36 PM
I think its a completely new organ that KT is building in the cathedral and I believe its in the region of £ 1.5M, but I understand that things have not been completely finalised yet.
The town hall organ is a sad state of affairs, and with the current economic situation and council budget cuts it will probably languish in the same state unless some wealthy benefactor comes along; a real shame for a Cavaille Coll. I think maybe a bit of three dimension thinking is required on the part of the council, i.e. try to preserve our historic past for our future generations
Some years ago, there was a plan for a new tracker organ on the screen at Manchester Cathedral. I think Walkers' were to build it, but it never happened. The Harrison was, for its time, a very enlightened and advanced scheme. It was more imaginative than St. John's College, Cambridge, but never received the same notice. Perhaps like Llandaff, Bury and Worcester, old material makes it better economics to start from scratch, but it would be sad in some ways to see the old organ go. Then again, the screen looks rather bare without an organ on it, but would a screen organ work on Sundays if the choir was in the chancel and the rest of the congregation in the nave? It's not that big a building. Still, I'm sure they will have taken everything into consideration. As Bernard Edmonds said regarding the St. Paul's rebuild, 'I, too, could have told them exactly what they should do, but fortunately, no one asked me'.